News / Regional
Lesotho PM Thabane tours Victoria Falls
24 Aug 2012 at 04:42hrs | Views
LESOTHO Prime Minister Mr Tom Motsoahae Thabane yesterday visited Victoria Falls where he toured the famous rainforest and the crocodile farm.
PM Thabane who is in the country on a three-day State visit was welcomed at the Victoria Falls International Airport by the Governor and Resident Minister of Matabeleland North Province, Thokozile Mathuthu and senior Government officials.
Also on hand to welcome PM Thabane were the officer commanding Matabeleland North police, Senior Assistant Commissioner Norman Sibanda and the commander of 1:2 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant- Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba.
PM Thabane arrived in Victoria Falls in the company of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Francis Nhema and some Government officials.
From the airport, PM Thabane was taken to Elephant Hills Resort before he went on a tour of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mighty Victoria Falls.
The PM was taken through all the points making up the biggest waterfall in the world from the devils cataract, the main falls up to the danger zone.
He also went to the Victoria Falls Bridge where he had the opportunity to see a tourist bungee jumping.
Addressing journalists at the rainforest, PM Thabane said Victoria Falls rainforest had evoked in him a lot of emotions since he realised that the vernacular of name of the rainforest, Mosi-Oya-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) was also in his language.
"The name Mosi-Oya-Tunya is in our language and I want to find out how that word got involved here," he said.
PM Thabane said while the rainforest was located in Zimbabwe, it belonged to the whole of Africa.
"We appreciate the fact that this wonderful creation is in Zimbabwe. We ought to salute the people of Zimbabwe for keeping it the way it is today and making it possible for the world to come and see.
Victoria Falls and all the names of colonialism should be part of history for our children. They must know where we came from before our countries attained independence," said PM Thabane.
He said Zimbabwe and Lesotho shared a common history adding that people should be aware of the times when the two were colonised.
"We are no longer colonised and there is a new dimension in that we are now partners with our former colonisers. We are now partners with the European Union and we should talk of equality. It is not necessary to talk about war or sanctions but we should talk about cooperation which is a necessity since some people are sleeping without a single meal while others eat six times or more."This is the deepest of my emotions about Africa," he said.
PM Thabane said he would have a lasting memory of his visit to Victoria Falls when he goes back to his country.
After touring the crocodile farm, PM Thabane returned to Harare aboard Air Zimbabwe.
He is expected to officially open the Harare Agricultural Show today.
Meanwhile, speaking at a banquet hosted for him by President Mugabe at State House on Wednesday night, PM Thabane said his delegation felt an aura of inspiration visiting the resilient people of Zimbabwe.
"We are reminded that for almost a century, from 1890, when Cecil Rhodes first settled in this African City of Harare, until 1980 when Zimbabwe defeated colonialism and attained political independence, the people of this sister country never knew peace and tranquility.
"Their heritage was stolen, their farmland and resources usurped by colonialists and they were subjected to the most brutal political and economic exclusion ever meted out to a people."
"But the people of Zimbabwe resisted colonial rule from the beginning. If their First Chimurenga of 1896 was suppressed by unparalleled brutality, that did not deter them from launching the Second Chimurenga 60 years later, a bitter war of liberation that ended with the defeat of colonialism and the subsequent independence of Zimbabwe 32 years ago.
"Your personal contribution and leadership in that struggle, Mr President, is now a matter for the annals of history."
He expressed Lesotho's confidence in President Mugabe's calibre and vision as a leader and that Zimbabwe would overcome its challenges to be among the best economic performers in Southern Africa.
PM Thabane said Lesotho was following Zimbabwe, with keen interest, sympathy and admiration.
He said Zimbabwe under President Mugabe's leadership has asserted its right to sovereignty while restoring the people's dignity and resources taken away by colonialists.
"History will record that the people of Zimbabwe were lucky to have you as a leader at that critical time in the history of their nationhood."I dare say you were the only leader, at that moment of history, with sufficient political credentials, stature and tenacity to withstand the pressures that were unleashed by those who wanted to prove that Zimbabwe was wrong to assert its independence, and to fully reverse the injustices of colonialism."
He said Zimbabwe may have gone through economic difficulties but the region acknowledges with admiration the solid foundation that the policies have built for development of Zimbabwe and future generations.He expressed confidence that Zimbabwe would emerge out of political uncertainty.
PM Thabane called for leaders to put Zimbabwe's interests ahead of their own to overcome their differences.
He said the GPA was inconceivable but through President Mugabe's political maturity, leadership and diplomatic skills, "and thanks to the cooperation of your partners, today there is light at the end of the tunnel . . ." Zimbabweans he said, would solve their own problems
"Our region has consistently stood together to reject externally imposed solutions that seek to undermine the sovereignty and Independence of Zimbabwe.
Despite the limited relaxation of sanctions by countries of the European Union, we continue to call for the lifting of all sanctions against this our sister country," he said.
PM Thabane who is in the country on a three-day State visit was welcomed at the Victoria Falls International Airport by the Governor and Resident Minister of Matabeleland North Province, Thokozile Mathuthu and senior Government officials.
Also on hand to welcome PM Thabane were the officer commanding Matabeleland North police, Senior Assistant Commissioner Norman Sibanda and the commander of 1:2 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant- Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba.
PM Thabane arrived in Victoria Falls in the company of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Francis Nhema and some Government officials.
From the airport, PM Thabane was taken to Elephant Hills Resort before he went on a tour of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mighty Victoria Falls.
The PM was taken through all the points making up the biggest waterfall in the world from the devils cataract, the main falls up to the danger zone.
He also went to the Victoria Falls Bridge where he had the opportunity to see a tourist bungee jumping.
Addressing journalists at the rainforest, PM Thabane said Victoria Falls rainforest had evoked in him a lot of emotions since he realised that the vernacular of name of the rainforest, Mosi-Oya-Tunya (the smoke that thunders) was also in his language.
"The name Mosi-Oya-Tunya is in our language and I want to find out how that word got involved here," he said.
PM Thabane said while the rainforest was located in Zimbabwe, it belonged to the whole of Africa.
"We appreciate the fact that this wonderful creation is in Zimbabwe. We ought to salute the people of Zimbabwe for keeping it the way it is today and making it possible for the world to come and see.
Victoria Falls and all the names of colonialism should be part of history for our children. They must know where we came from before our countries attained independence," said PM Thabane.
He said Zimbabwe and Lesotho shared a common history adding that people should be aware of the times when the two were colonised.
"We are no longer colonised and there is a new dimension in that we are now partners with our former colonisers. We are now partners with the European Union and we should talk of equality. It is not necessary to talk about war or sanctions but we should talk about cooperation which is a necessity since some people are sleeping without a single meal while others eat six times or more."This is the deepest of my emotions about Africa," he said.
PM Thabane said he would have a lasting memory of his visit to Victoria Falls when he goes back to his country.
After touring the crocodile farm, PM Thabane returned to Harare aboard Air Zimbabwe.
He is expected to officially open the Harare Agricultural Show today.
Meanwhile, speaking at a banquet hosted for him by President Mugabe at State House on Wednesday night, PM Thabane said his delegation felt an aura of inspiration visiting the resilient people of Zimbabwe.
"We are reminded that for almost a century, from 1890, when Cecil Rhodes first settled in this African City of Harare, until 1980 when Zimbabwe defeated colonialism and attained political independence, the people of this sister country never knew peace and tranquility.
"Their heritage was stolen, their farmland and resources usurped by colonialists and they were subjected to the most brutal political and economic exclusion ever meted out to a people."
"But the people of Zimbabwe resisted colonial rule from the beginning. If their First Chimurenga of 1896 was suppressed by unparalleled brutality, that did not deter them from launching the Second Chimurenga 60 years later, a bitter war of liberation that ended with the defeat of colonialism and the subsequent independence of Zimbabwe 32 years ago.
"Your personal contribution and leadership in that struggle, Mr President, is now a matter for the annals of history."
He expressed Lesotho's confidence in President Mugabe's calibre and vision as a leader and that Zimbabwe would overcome its challenges to be among the best economic performers in Southern Africa.
PM Thabane said Lesotho was following Zimbabwe, with keen interest, sympathy and admiration.
He said Zimbabwe under President Mugabe's leadership has asserted its right to sovereignty while restoring the people's dignity and resources taken away by colonialists.
"History will record that the people of Zimbabwe were lucky to have you as a leader at that critical time in the history of their nationhood."I dare say you were the only leader, at that moment of history, with sufficient political credentials, stature and tenacity to withstand the pressures that were unleashed by those who wanted to prove that Zimbabwe was wrong to assert its independence, and to fully reverse the injustices of colonialism."
He said Zimbabwe may have gone through economic difficulties but the region acknowledges with admiration the solid foundation that the policies have built for development of Zimbabwe and future generations.He expressed confidence that Zimbabwe would emerge out of political uncertainty.
PM Thabane called for leaders to put Zimbabwe's interests ahead of their own to overcome their differences.
He said the GPA was inconceivable but through President Mugabe's political maturity, leadership and diplomatic skills, "and thanks to the cooperation of your partners, today there is light at the end of the tunnel . . ." Zimbabweans he said, would solve their own problems
"Our region has consistently stood together to reject externally imposed solutions that seek to undermine the sovereignty and Independence of Zimbabwe.
Despite the limited relaxation of sanctions by countries of the European Union, we continue to call for the lifting of all sanctions against this our sister country," he said.
Source - TC
